by Jaci Burton
“It’s okay. I’m the one who’s sorry. I should have called you when you didn’t reply to my message.”
“No, really. It’s on me. I just thought . . .”
She thought he’d want to see her. They’d barely spoken. She texted him and he’d text back, but she sensed a distance. And now . . .
She shouldn’t read too much into this. He was just busy. So was she.
She took a deep breath and headed to the door. “Okay, then. Well, you have fun with the guys tonight.”
“Really, Aubry. I’m sorry about this. It’s just that I said I’d go to this party for him. And it’s just all guys, otherwise I’d take you with me.”
“No you definitely should go hang out with the team. Have a great time.”
“Thanks. I’ll text you later, okay?”
“Sure. Bye, Tucker.”
He didn’t pull her against him for a kiss. He didn’t hug her. It was as if he didn’t want to get close to her.
She walked out and he shut the door.
Something was wrong. With him. With them. With their relationship.
When she got to her car, she palmed her stomach, feeling the ache of loss all the way down to her toes.
What the hell was going on?
TUCKER LEANED AGAINST THE FRONT DOOR, LISTENING to the sound of Aubry’s car starting up and pulling away.
He had no party to go to tonight. When she’d texted that she was coming over, he’d panicked and that was the first thing he’d thought of to tell her. Unfortunately, she’d showed up at his house looking gorgeous and smelling like candy and all he’d wanted to do was pull her into his arms and kiss her and make love to her and tell her he was in love with her.
Instead, he’d sent her away.
Coward.
He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath, then let it out.
He was hurting her. Hell, he was hurting himself. This wasn’t him. He didn’t act this way, didn’t skulk around avoiding a woman because he’d been threatened by her father. He’d always addressed uncomfortable issues head-on. Even that night in the wine cellar with Laura, he’d told her up front and honestly that he didn’t see their relationship continuing. He’d taken a knee to the balls for it, but he’d been honest with her.
And now? With the woman he loved, he was avoiding and being completely dishonest. It was the most cowardly thing he’d ever done.
And he still didn’t know what the hell to do about it.
He needed to talk to someone, and he knew who. He had a road trip coming up, and it would end in Houston, with a day off in between.
He needed to go home and talk to his family.
AUBRY DID NOT WANT TO BE AT THIS DINNER TO CELEBRATE her aunt and uncle’s anniversary.
Love was a crock of shit, and who better to represent that than a philandering uncle and the woman who foolishly stood by him despite his constant affairs.
But her mother would have been offended had she not showed up, and since she was off work, she was here. For her mother, and for no other reason.
And okay, also for her Aunt Farrah, who looked beautiful tonight in a gold dress, her hair worn down in gorgeous red waves. She was the bangle bracelet queen, and she was definitely clanging those bracelets with fervor tonight. At least her uncle would be attentive tonight. He kind of had to, since the party was in their honor. Why Uncle Davis felt he could do better than her treasure of an aunt was beyond her ability to understand.
Then again, she didn’t understand anything about men these days, including the one she’d been dating. The one who was currently all but ignoring her.
She had a feeling she was being dumped, and if Tucker would just come out and say he didn’t want to see her anymore—like a man with balls would—then she’d at least know and she could move on with her life. But this cat-and-mouse game he’d been playing with her where he’d answer her texts and they’d talk like they were still in a relationship, but he couldn’t make time to see her?
That was confusing as hell.
She decided not to think about Tucker tonight, so she hung out with her parents and her aunt and uncle, though she tended to avoid her uncle because she thought he was a miserable asshole. She merely tolerated his presence because of her aunt. And tonight, Aunt Farrah was the center of attention, and Uncle Davis was lavishing her with compliments and telling the entire crowd how much he loved his wife.
It was kind of gag worthy, but at least Aunt Farrah seemed to enjoy it. After a while, Aubry had had enough, so she went into the den to pour herself a glass of whiskey. This night called for hard liquor.
Her dad was in there.
“Avoiding the party?” she asked.
He turned to her and smiled. “I needed a break.”
“I’ll drink to that.” She walked over and her father poured a whiskey for her, then handed her a glass while he poured one for himself.
She took a sip, letting the liquid burn its way down. Mmm, so good. Maybe she should get blitzed tonight so she wouldn’t have to think about Tucker.
Then again, since she had to report to work early tomorrow, maybe that wasn’t such a good idea.
She sat on one of the leather chairs across from her dad. “The party’s nice.”
“It is. I can’t believe Davis and Farrah have been married forty years.”
“You and mom aren’t too far behind them. Only a couple more years.”
Her father smiled. “I know. I think I’ll take her to Europe for our fortieth. Do a month-long trip and see Scotland, Ireland, England, France, Germany, Portugal and a few others. She’s talked for a lot of years about doing that.”
Aubry beamed a smile at her father. “Oh, Dad. She’d love that.”
“Good. Don’t tell her. I’ll surprise her.”
Now this was love, and her father constantly surprised her with how thoughtful he was, especially when it came to her mom. He could be a ruthless businessman one minute, and a sweet, considerate husband and father the next.
She really loved him.
“Where’s Tucker tonight? Since the party started late, I thought maybe he’d show up after the game.”
Her smile died. “I . . . don’t know.”
“Problems between the two of you?”
“Again. I don’t really know, Dad. He’s been distant lately. We’ll talk or text, but we haven’t seen each other. Like at all. And he keeps making excuses as to why we can’t be together. I think we might be breaking up.”
Her father was silent for a moment, studying his glass of whiskey before answering. Then he looked up at her. “I’m sorry, honey. But maybe it’s for the best.”
She frowned. “Why would it be for the best?”
“Oh, you know. Your career is so important. You should focus your attention on work and studies. And the possibilities of a fellowship. Not on romance. Plenty of time for that later.”
“You and I have always fundamentally disagreed on that, Dad. Do you know a lot of doctors are married before they even enter medical school? Or they get married during their internship? Or residency? People can actually juggle a medical career and a personal life.”
“People can, yes. But it’s not easy. I just don’t want you diverting your attention away from what’s important—your career. And honestly, did you really think this thing with Tucker would have lasted? Him on the road half the season, you with your heavy schedule? When would you even see each other? It had to end sooner or later.”
A niggling suspicion hit her. Surely he wouldn’t. Well, yeah, he definitely would. She thought back to the timing of Tucker’s sudden disinterest, and it fit. She had to ask. “Dad, did you say something to Tucker that night he was over for dinner?”
Her father shrugged. “I might have. But only in your best interests, Aubry.”
“What did you say to him?”
“I might have, jokingly, of course, said that if he didn’t break up with you I’d send him back down to Triple-A ball or trade him.”
Icy-cold anger dropped like an anchor into the pit of her stomach. She laid her glass on the side table and stood. “How could you do that? And you know damn well that Tucker respects you as the owner of the Rivers. He would have never taken what you said as a joke.”
Her father stood and approached her. “I only want what’s best for you, Aubry. I always have.”
She backed away. “Don’t touch me. Don’t . . . God, Dad, how could you do this? How could you manipulate my life this way?”
Her mother came in. “What’s going on?”
She turned to her mother. “Dad threatened to trade Tucker unless he broke up with me.”
Her mother’s look was furious as she looked over at Aubry’s father. “You did not.”
“I thought it best the two of them not continue the relationship. You know how important her career as a physician is.”
Disgusted with her father, Aubry raised her hands in the air. “I cannot be here right now.” She walked across the room, kissed her mother on the cheek and left the room. She found her purse, grabbed her keys and said her good-byes to her aunt and uncle, claiming she had to get up extra early for her shift in the morning, then headed out the door.
She made it to the car and down to the end of the driveway before she had to stop and take several deep breaths. She raised her hands off the steering wheel and realized they were shaking. She had to get it under control before she got on the highway.
But how could she do that when her mind was filled with all the betrayal?
Her father, manipulating her life that way.
And Tucker, who hadn’t once told her what her father had said, but had obviously made his choice. He’d chosen his career over her.
Of course he did. His career was important to him.
But why wasn’t she?
And more importantly, why hadn’t he told her?
Maybe because she just didn’t matter to him as much as she’d thought. Maybe all these . . . feelings . . . had been one-sided. So his decision had been easier than she’d thought.
Tears pricked her eyes, one escaping to slide down her cheek.
“Oh, hell no.” She swiped the tear away. She was going to get angry, not pitiful and sad. She would not feel sorry for herself. And she absolutely would not cry.
She gripped the steering wheel, took several cleansing breaths, determined to be strong about this.
Men were pricks and she was a survivor of idiot men. She pressed calmly on the gas pedal and headed for home.
Or at least she thought she was going home. For some reason her car ended up in the parking lot of Tucker’s condo. It was late enough that he should be back home from the game. And lights were on.
There was no way she was going to let this rest, no way she was going to continue to let him avoid her. Not until she said what she needed to say to him.
She got out of the car and went to his door, her heart pounding with a combination of hurt, anger and just a little bit of trepidation.
She didn’t know what kind of response she’d get from him.
Maybe her dad’s ultimatum had been a relief. Maybe he’d wanted out, and that was why he’d been so easily avoiding her.
She shook her head and rang the bell. Tucker answered the door, his expression grim as he saw her.
“Aubry.”
“I need to talk to you.”
He raked his fingers through his hair. “Yeah, uh . . .”
She didn’t let him finish, just pushed past him and walked into his living room.
He shut the door and turned to face her. “Aubry, look—”
“Don’t bother,” she said. “My father told me he threatened to trade you or send you down to the minors unless you dumped me.”
“He did?”
“Yes. It was an awful thing for him to do. Why didn’t you come and talk to me about it right away?”
He cocked his head to the side. “Come on, Aubry. Did you really think I was going to run and cry to you because your daddy was mean to me?”
“So instead you’ve been avoiding me? You think that’s the better solution?”
“I was . . . thinking.”
She let out a derisive laugh. “Oh. You were thinking. About what? How best to break up with me? You’re an asshole, Tucker. I thought you were someone completely different—a man with honor and integrity, and someone who would never lie to me. I was so wrong about you—about us and what I thought we had together.”
“Aubry, I’m sorry. I just didn’t know what to do.”
“Of course you didn’t, because you’re a coward. I’m so disappointed in you, Tucker. You could have at least had the balls to be honest with me. Or at least faced me and told me you’d chosen your career over me. That, at least, I’d have understood. Instead, you ran and hid from me. I don’t want a man who’d do that, so guess what, Tucker? You’re off the hook. We’re done.”
She headed for the door but Tucker was right there.
“Don’t do this. Let’s talk.”
She laughed. “Oh, so now you want to talk? Too late.” She stared at the door, then at him, demanding without words that he get the hell out of her way—out of her life.
He moved and she opened the door and stalked out, barely breathing as she made her way to her car. She shut the door and took several deep breaths.
She’d done what she needed to do. It was over now. She should feel better, clearer headed.
She didn’t. Seeing him again just made her miss him even more. What they’d had together had been amazing. Why had he thrown it all away?
She sighed, gripped the steering wheel and forced herself to take several more calming breaths.
It was just another failed relationship. She’d get over it just like she’d gotten over the others.
Except this wasn’t like the others. She’d never loved anyone before.
Her mind swept back to the look of utter misery she’d seen on Tucker’s face while she’d been railing at him.
She shook her head. No. It wasn’t possible that Tucker was hurting. The man couldn’t possibly have a heart.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have broken hers.
THERE WAS NOTHING LIKE THE FEELING OF SETTING your boots on the front porch of your home. For Tucker, home would always be the family ranch in Texas where his parents lived. He stood outside in the early-morning hours watching the golden sunrise over the tops of the trees, breathing in the Texas air.
It was the first time he’d felt good in weeks.
He might not be a football player like the rest of his brothers, or like his father, but the Cassidy athletic dynasty was what made him into the athlete he’d become. And he owed all of that to his father, Easton. The man was a sports legend, had played football in college and spent his entire career in Green Bay. He’d been one hell of a quarterback, and he was one hell of a dad.
It was always good to come home and feel the energy his dad still emanated.
Tucker needed some of that feel-good fire right now. Because right now he felt broken.
Coward.
That word hovered incessantly in the back of his head like it had been branded there for all eternity. And he goddamn didn’t like that feeling.
He heard the front door open and the sound of boots approaching. He knew without looking those were the sounds of his father’s footsteps.
“You’re up early. I would have thought you might have slept in.”
Tucker looked over at his dad, who, even in his mid-fifties, still looked as robust and healthy as he’d been the last time he’d played a game for Green Bay. Working the ranch kept him active and Tucker was grateful for that.
“Haven’t been sleeping much.”
“I figured you didn’t make this stopover because you wanted to spend a day helping me rebuild fence on the northeast side of the property.”
Tucker laughed. “Yeah, not so much.”
“Okay. What’s going on?”
Tucker looked out over the front of th
e property. Dogs were playing and scrub blew across in the breeze. But it was calm and peaceful.
Not inside Tucker, though. Inside there was turmoil, a twister of emotions he needed to get out. “I’m in love with Aubry Ross. She’s Clyde Ross’s daughter.”
“Clyde Ross being the owner of the Rivers?”
“Yeah.”
“Is that a problem?”
“It wasn’t until she brought me to her parents’ house for dinner. Clyde pulled me aside and told me that Aubry’s career in medicine has to take precedence in her life, and if I didn’t stop seeing her he’d send me back down to Triple-A ball or trade me.”
“Bastard.” His dad took a sip of his coffee, then took a seat on one of the chairs on the porch, propping his feet up on the porch rail. “So what are you gonna do about it?”
“I don’t know. If it was any other guy telling me to stop seeing his daughter or else, I’d tell him to fuck off. No one tells me what to do. But Clyde Ross owns the Rivers. He could do anything he wants to me, from trading me to sending me back to Triple-A ball.”
Tucker sat on the top step, turning to face his dad. “Instead, I took a step back from the relationship, keeping my distance from Aubry.”
“Understandable knee-jerk reaction to having your job threatened. What did Aubry say when you told her what her father said?”
“I didn’t tell her. I didn’t want to pit her between me and her dad.”
His father took another few swallows of his coffee before answering. “Okay. I can kind of see your point there. But now I guess you’re gonna have to choose.”
The door opened. “Choose what?”
Tucker’s mom came outside. A former lawyer, she was smart, savvy and had managed to raise five unruly children without killing any of them.
“Kid’s got a problem with a woman and her dad,” his father said. “Tucker, fill your mom in on what happened.”
While his mom took a seat next to his dad, Tucker told her what had happened with Aubry and with Aubry’s father.
“Well, hell,” his mom said. “That’s unfair. To you and to Aubry. She’s not a child and she’s old enough to make her own decisions regarding her personal life. But to threaten your career like that? That’s below the belt, Tucker.”
